At the launch of Nothing Like a Dame

Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater

On Monday, 27 January 2014, the lobby of Oxford University Press’s New York City office was filled with Broadway fans, and a few stars, drinking champagne in celebration of the publication of Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations With the Great Women of Musical Theater by Eddie Shapiro. The book, which publishes this month, is a collection of twenty interviews with some of the most famous, Tony Award-winning women of the Great White Way, from Elaine Stritch to Idina Menzel. In attendance at the launch party were five women who were interviewed by Eddie for the book: Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Debra Monk, Lillias White, and Karen Ziemba. The party was co-sponsored by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and providing support and services to those affected by the disease.

Nothing Like a Dame

Party attendees could pick up their own complimentary copies of the book and thumb through the copies on display.

The special guests are announced

Several of the ‘dames’ featured in the book came to the party to support both the book and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; four are shown here. From left to right: Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, Judy Kaye, Laura Benanti, and author Eddie Shapiro.

Eddie Shapiro and Norm Hirschy

Eddie Shapiro and the Broadway ‘dames’

All five actresses that came to the party posed with author Eddie Shapiro for the press. From left to right: Laura Benanti, Judy Kaye, Karen Ziemba, Lillias White, Eddie Shapiro, and Debra Monk.

Eddie Shapiro, Danny Whitman, and Karen Ziemba

The launch party was a huge success thanks the support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Pictured here is Danny Whitman from Broadway Cares (center), with Eddie Shapiro (left) and Karen Ziemba.

Eddie Shapiro on BroadwayWorld

Throughout the night, BroadwayWorld interviewed the author and special guests about their stories and their involvement in the book. Seen here is host Richard Ridge interviewing Eddie Shapiro.

John Wesley Shipp with a fan

Also in attendance was John Wesley Shipp (left), most famous for his role in the TV show Dawson’s Creek, pictured here with a fan.

Lillias White and Norm Lewis

It was a star-studded evening. Not only did Broadway actresses featured in the book attend, but several other actors came out to celebrate the book. Seen here is Norm Lewis (best known for his recent Tony Award-nominated role in Porgy and Bess) with Lillias White.